Bill Easums Observations

I just read one of the best books todate on small groups. The book is The Relational Way by M. Scott Boren.  I’ve followed Scott’s ministry for some time now after some of his earlier books on small groups began to appear (Two of the best are Where Do We Go From Here and Making Cell Groups Work).

In his book The Relational Way Boren describes why  some small group  systems work and some don’t even though they follow the small model and tactics.  The answer- small groups aren’t about Bible study or growing the  church or community building, or retention of  members, or interest or affinity groups.  Small groups are the way the church of the  21st century mimics the way of life in the first century church. Small groups are Kingdom building places where people are taught how to live the Christ-like life in the world so that their faith becomes contagious.  Small groups are about spreading the Kingdom way of living throughout the world.

Most pastors I run into are still thinking of small groups as the best way to retain the members they have. But that is not what God has in mind for small groups according to Boren.

the book is built around a number of myths that Boren debunks. Here is one example upon which all  of the others are built:

Myth 1: Doing the right thing (a small group program) without consideration  of the right way ( the relational way) will produce community.

The Relational Truth: God’s relational  kingdom is a product of leaders who establish a way of living that stands in contrast to the culture.

If you are doing or considering doing small groups in your church, you MUST read this book. Of course after you have read my book (along with John Atkinson) Go Big: Eleven Steps to an Explosive Small Group Ministry.